Key-opening can



No. 621.758. Patented Mar. 2:, I899.

I B. w. monFuoT.

, KEY OPENING CAN.

(Application filed 1152.1. 14:,

(No midel'.

' inafter fully described andclaimed.

- hereby Urri'rnn I STATES ATENT OFFICE. 4

BENJAMIN HUGO ZIEGFELD, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

KEY-=OPJENiNG EAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,758, dated March 21, L899.

Application filed March 14118985 To asZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LBENJAMIN W. Monroo'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Opening Cans; and 1 do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

M y invention relates to a novel construction in a key-opening can, the object being to provide a device of this character of extremely simple construction, small, cost, and efficient operation;-and it consists in the features of construction In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a can constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the removable strip in the cover partly wound upon the key. Fig. i is a detail view showing the manner of offsetting the projecting tongue to permit the cover to be properly secured upon the box.

The principal objectof my presentinvcintion is to produce a simpler and cheaper can with a key-opening head than has heretofore been produced and also to provide a head in which a removable strip is formed, which will be more reliable in operation than any which have heretofore been produced and which can be adapted to cans of any form. To, these ends I provide a box A, having heads B and O, mounted in the ends of the peripheral strip D, which is slightly olfset outwardly at its ends to form shoulders 1, upon which said heads B and C are adapted to rest. The depth of said ofiset portion is preferably about equal to the thickness of the metal, so that the outer faces of said heads will be flush with the edges of the strip D. Said heads B and O are perfectly plane and devoid of flanges, so that when soldered in place on said strip 1) the upper and lower faces thereof will be practically plane.- Said head 0 of said can is provided with a peripheral removable strip 2, formed by a weakeningline or incision 3, which extends from the edge of and combinations of parts hereing the width of the strip at these points the OVGI'GOHIO.

Serial No. 673,854. (No model.)

the sheet inwardly upon the body thereof at a given distance from theperiphery and is pa'rallel with the latter except at sharp cor-- ners, where said line turns on a curve having .a greater radius than the small round corner of the box, thus increasing the width of the strip I at the corners. In the drawings I have illustrated a-usual form of sardine-box having an oblong form withsmall rounded corners. If said weakened line were to be made parallel with the peripheral face of said box, it would obviously make avery sharp turn at the cor hers and would be apt to tear transversely, th'iis necessitating the use of an ordinary canopener .to open the box. By running's'aid line farther inwardly at said corners and increasteudency of the strip to tear transversely is Said weakened line terminates at a point adjacent its starting-point, so as to leave a small portion of unweakened metal between such point of termination and the adjacent portion of the weakened-line. This has the efiect of preventing the middle portion of the head which is'bordered by said weakened line from being entirely detached from said strip, which is obviously advantageous. The said head 0 is secured in place by means of soft solder or other similar material, and this joint forms the other-weakened line bordering the removable strip. Said removable strip 2 terminates in a tongue 4,

projecting beyond the edge of said head and obviously beyond the periphery of said box.

The said tongue 4 is odset upwardly, as at 5,

to permit said head to fit within said olfset portion of said strip D. Where said tongue 4 passes over the edge of said strip D, it is soldered to the latter from below, so as to completely seal the'can. To remove said head 0, the key 6, which is adapted to lie in a depression 7 in the middle portion of said head, is inserted over said tongue 4, a slot 9 being provided'in said key for the purpose, and upon turning said key said strip will be torn from the edge of said strip D and along said weakened line 1 and wound upon said key in the manner shown in Fig. 3. When completely torn on its soldered edge, said head will be entirely removed and leave the box entirely open to permit the ready removal ing themetal 'stiflfening the entire can-head, while the deof the contents without breaking, tearing, or

otherwise injuring the latter and leaves no ragged edges to scratch and cut the fingers.

It will be apparent that in order to successfully operate a key-opening can-head the metal on each side of the removable strip must be braced sufiicientlyto withstand the strains-that is, it must not bend, but should retain its original shape and position. On one side of the removable strip 2 is the peripheral strip D, which will obviously'withstand the strains, while on the interior of said removable strip 2 -I have provided the depression 8,-which is bordered bya bevel 10, formed in the tin, and this acts similar to arib, bracagainst bending and generally pression 7, which conforms in shape to and holds the key, tion of a lateral strengthener to the head 0. By my manner of forming the soldered joint between 'the can-head and the peripheral sheet I obtain a joint to tear'which requires'a strain so nearly equal to that required to tear thetin along the weakened line as to equalize the strain on-both sides of the strip. This in particular forms the most essential part of my invention, as the equalization of the ripping strain on both sides of the removable strip is absolutely essential tothe successful operation of a key-opening can.

Y As above stated, it is also necessary that the metal on both sides of the strip be braced to and in considering theseprevent bending, features in a key-opening can Iprovide an absolutely operative device and one which requires so little strength that a child can operate it. I It will of course be understood that though I-have illustrated only a sardine-box made in accordance with my invention any other form may be made to equal advantage.

also has the additional func I claim as my invention- 1. In a can, the combination with a peripheral sheet outwardly oifset atits outer edge to form an internally-streugthening and ribbed shoulder, of acan-headfitted and'adapted to be soldered in this shoulder, said can-head having a depression bounded by a strengthening beveled portion, and having a second strengthening depression adapted to conform to and hold a key, and a line of weakness surrounding said beveled portion whereby a peripheral strip is formed for detachment all around the beveled depression and between the latter and the extreme shouldered edge of-the peripheral sheet, so that the latter is firmly braced on each of its edges.

2. In acan, the combination with a peripheral sheet outwardly offset at its outer edge to form an internally-strengthening and ribbed shoulder, of a can-head fitted and adapted to be soIdered in having a depression bounded by a strengthening beveled portion, and having asecond strengthening depression adapted to conform to and hold a key, and ,a line of weakness surrounding said beveled portion whereby a peripheral aroundthe beveled depression and between the latter and' the extreme shouldered edge of the peripheral sheet, 'so that the latter is firmly braced on each of its edges and the tear of this strip is always etfected simultaneously at two points intersected by a line practically perpendicular to the inner weakened line.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN W. MORFOO'I.

this shoulder, said can-head- 

